Cuomo Endorses NYPD Expansion Amid Political Rivalry

By Eric Mack | Sunday, 02 November 2025 09:16 AM EST
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has endorsed outgoing Democrat Mayor Eric Adams’ proposal to hire 5,000 additional NYPD officers, framing it as a critical measure to address police attrition and restore balanced workloads within the department. Cuomo cited the high rate of officer departures due to understaffing, stating, “Hiring 5,000 police officers will actually give them enough staff where people can work normal shifts.”

Adams’ plan aims to increase the NYPD’s ranks from nearly 34,000 to approximately 40,000 by 2029, marking the largest force in two decades. The initiative, projected to cost $17.8 million in the next fiscal year and escalate to $315.8 million by 2029, requires City Council approval.

Cuomo leveraged the announcement to criticize rival Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who supported the defund-the-police movement. Forced to run as an independent after losing the Democratic primary, Cuomo accused Mamdani of opposing Adams’ plan and being “against the police,” asserting, “Socialists are against the police.”

Mamdani has attempted to shift his stance, apologizing for past rhetoric and proposing a $1.1 billion Department of Community Safety to handle nonviolent mental health calls. He also pledged to retain Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch if elected.

Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa accused Cuomo of promoting “leftism” and claimed that both he and liberals like Mamdani have contributed to New York’s decline. Sliwa warned, “If I happen to lose to Zohran Mamdani, I become his worst nightmare,” emphasizing his commitment to “law and order values.”